Looking at the 5 1/4-inch blade on the Wasp Injector Knife, it quickly becomes apparent that despite its name, this tool is not made for stabbing pesky insects. No, it's for much, much peskier creatures.

The $379.95 weapon--which would most logically be used for diving, hunting, or self defense--instantly injects a freezing-cold ball of compressed gas, approximately the size of a basketball, into the unlucky recipient.

The injection freezes all tissues and organs surrounding the point of entry and will drop many of the world's largest land predators, according to Wasp Injection Systems, creator of the knife. The 13.5-ounce tool reloads quickly on land or underwater.

When used underwater, the injected gas carries the predator to the surface before blood is released into the water. That gives the diver additional protection by diverting other potential predators to the surface, the company says.

Not surprisingly, we spotted the Wasp Injector Knife on Uncrate, a macho-ish Web magazine for guys.

About the author

Leslie Katz, Crave's senior editor, heads up a team that covers the most crushworthy (and wackiest) tech, science, and culture around. As a co-host of the now-retired CNET News Daily Podcast, she was sometimes known to channel Terry Gross and still uses her trained "podcast voice" to bully the speech recognition software on automated customer service lines. E-mail Leslie.
See full bio